These days, a large fraction of young people graduate from college only to move back into their childhood bedrooms, But that's hardy the only trend standing between people and their empty nests: More and more Americans are bringing their elderly parents home to stay too.

Living in multigenerational households isn't a new phenomenon: It was the norm for centuries, and in much of the world, it still is. But the financial pains of the Great Recession are pushing more of us back into into such homes -- and that could be an excellent thing.